New colours for Nanny Mihi and the Rainbow

Of the five picture books in the original Nanny Mihi series, the story about Nanny and her grandchildren making a rainbow on the beach during the school holidays was the most popular among children and adults alike.

Now, in time for the summer break and after more than ten years of being out of print, Nanny Mihi and the Rainbow returns in this new edition. 

Oratia Books relaunched the series last with a new story from Melanie Drewery, Nanny Mihi and the Bellbird, featuring a fresh illustration style from Tracy Duncan. 

That book has already reprinted twice, proving Nanny still has a place in readers’ hearts. 

Nanny Mihi and the Rainbow marks the next in the refreshed series, and integrates te Reo Māori into the text with translations provided. 

Nanny Mihi teaches her grandchildren and the many kids who will read the book patience, creativity and connection to nature — and that sometimes the best things are not those we keep but those we give away. 

The book is available from all good booksellers and there's more on our website by following this link.

The authors

Melanie Drewery works as a potter and writer from her rural home in Marahau,  Nelson, where the beach is close by. She is an established children’s writer with more than 20 titles to her name, including 2018’s Nanny Mihi and the Bellbird. Tracy Duncan is an author, illustrator and teacher who lives in Upper Moutere, Nelson. She has illustrated all of the Nanny Mihi stories.

Publication: 5 November 2019  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-65-0 |  RRP $19.99

Paperback, 230 x 215 mm, 32 pages colour

Home Child: new picture book remembers British child migrants to New Zealand

London 1950: a father makes the heart-wrenching decision to send four of his children to New Zealand for a better life. 

Young Pat and one of her sisters are allowed to stay together when the four are adopted out, but they will never see their father again. 

Many years after coming to New Zealand, Pat and her sister are reunited with their brother and sister and one other sister that didn’t travel to New Zealand with them. 

Home Child hauntingly captures the experience of young children consigned to a new life in a strange country, with its sadness and also happy times. 

This is the reality of the UK's child migrant policy in story form that today's children can read and digest.

Dawn McMillan recounts the essence of Pat’s experience, which is beautifully represented by illustrator Trish Bowles. 

Included is biographical information about Pat (now living in Nelson) and her tireless work for child migrants in New Zealand, and an explanation of the history of the thousands of children that were sent all over the world from England.

In 2010 Pat represented New Zealand at the British Government’s official apology to child migrants. This is her story.

For more information on the 593 child migrants sent to New Zealand, see Te Ara, The Encyclopedia of New Zealand online: https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1931/child-migrants-1949

As the UK-based Child Migrant Trust website writes:

Britain is the only country in the world with a sustained history of child migration ... The reality of this policy was to remove children, some as young as three years old from their mothers and fathers, from all that was familiar to them, and to ship them thousands of miles away from their home country to institutions in distant lands within the Commonwealth. Many of these children were removed without their parents' knowledge or consent. 

Dawn McMillan is the much-loved author of numerous children’s books including the international hit I Need a New Bum! In this emotion-filled story    she shows her writing talent is not restricted to humour. Dawn meticulously researched the story and developed a friendship with Pat. Trish Bowles is a well-respected and widely published illustrator. She lives in Christchurch.

Publication: 9 April 2019  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-58-2 |  RRP $27.99

Hardback, 270 x 210 mm, 40 pages colour

New book celebrates and profiles New Zealand's regions

When bringing up her children in New Zealand, Oratia's media director Alessandra Zecchini felt she could have used a book that introduced them to the country's regions. 

Having grown up in Italy, Alessandra couldn't answer some of their questions, so came up with the idea of a book that did - helping not only children but also adults new to New Zealand to understand its regional identities.

Oratia's publisher Peter Dowling and editorial director Carolyn Lagahetau set out to make the book – conceived as an easy guide that is suitable for children from age 10 up, and is in English simple enough for most immigrants and tourists to access. 

Regions of New Zealand is a colourful, large-format hardback that gives readers all the basics about the diverse geography and characteristics of the nation (see link, https://www.oratia.co.nz/product/regions-of-new-zealand/)

Through maps, photos, fact boxes and simple text, the book takes readers on a tour from Northland to Southland, Tokelau to Antarctica.

Each region features in a spread of the book, with a colour map showing towns and features, summary text, photos illustrating key locations and tourist destinations, fact boxes and key info. 

In addition are sections on Māori regional relationships, early provincial divisions, outlying territories and study links.

Peter authored the book under Carolyn's editorial direction, with design by Cheryl Smith and input from a range of experts, official sources, proofreaders and photographers.

German children's book publisher Katja Korintenberg (left) gets a preview
of Regions of New Zealand with Peter Dowling at the recent Frankfurt Book Fair

Sales and marketing consultant Belinda Cooke is promoting Regions of New Zealand and can be reached for publicity enquiries on belinda@oratia.co.nz

Publication Date: 24 October 2017  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-35-3 |  RRP $29.99

Hardback, 270 x 210 mm, 40 pages colour